Page 10 - Patrick Scott Scrapbooks

THE IRISH
PRESS, FRIDA Y ,
museum
buys Scott · painting
'•
1008.
I
•T H E Museum of Modern Art New York, has 1?ought. a painting oy the Dublm artist,
Patrick Scott. It is called "Woman Carrying Grasses" and was sent to New York as one of five Irish entries for the 1958
Guggenheim Award.
New York Museum of Modern
Art possesses one of the fi:nel!t col- lections in the world. .This 1!' the first painting by an Irish artist to have been purchased by the , Museum.
Patrick Scott is a member .of Committee of the Irish._Exhibition of Living Art. and exh1b1ts regul- arly each He has had pamt- ings in exhibitions sent to America, Sweden, Germany and other coun- tries by the Cultural Relations \ Committee. He is on the panel of consultants of Signa, Design C'JI!-
sultants, and has done design work for Radio Eireann, Bord Fa1lte, De- partment of External Affairs, Coras 1 Tractala Teo, Dublin International
Theatre Festival. etc.
He is now carrying out designs
for the decoration of Grafton St. at Christmas.
Belfast Museum and Art Gallery
recently recommended the purchase of a picture by .f'.atrick Scott from the Irish Exh1bit10n of L1vmg Art. The recommendation was endorsed by the Libraries, Museums and Art Committee. but when it went before
Belfast City Council for approval. Alderman T. Henderson so the matter is now one of pub!Ic controversy.
THURSDA Y ,
NOVEMBER
DAILY MAIL, Thursday, November 6, 1958
Painting of a girl
upsets Alderman H
No decision ::·on Scott

A" PAINTING by Dublin Patrick Sc9tt, holder Df'· the Guggenheim Prize, a top American award, ·wa.s on dis- play in the City He.11, Belfast, yesterday, to help member's of the Corporation decide if it is
worth paying £100 for it.
CJ:'he Corporation's Art sub- cotfflfiittee, supporteQ.. by the Libraries, Museums and Art committee had decided to l:ruy " Girl Cari:-ying Grasse,s.'' .. But the City Council, at its meeting on Monday, postponed !I. final decisfon after Alderman: To1ilmy Henderson said the
picture we.s not worth the money .
Miss A. Cruickshank, Keeper of Art at Belfast Museum says: " It is very sophisticated and a. very good example of Scott's work. Its merit may not strike you immediaitely, but it ls very fine classical painting."
Tpe matter wm be. dil3G.uss€}.d. ag'iμn by e. Belfast Corporation . eommlttee meeting to-morrow.
By Daily Mail Reporter A LDERMAN Thomas Hender-
son. " father " of Belfast wa.s a l m o s t speechless with anger yester-
day.
He is in the forefront of a
move to stop £100 of Belfast ratepayers' money going to a Dublin artist for his painting of an Italian girl carrying grass on her head.
" There is nothing artistic about it," said · Alderman Hendel"son after having a look
appalling • • • frankly, words fail lne."
Scott? ·
The_ corporation's art sub-
committee and the libraries museum'!. and art committee. ' pn Friday the libraries com- 1m1ttee meets again to decide whether it should continue with
the deal.
The keeoer of art, Miss A.
Galler y .
I unaerstand that the picture is due to come
back to Dublin: would it be possible to delay
its return until we have di scovered whet her we are I
goingj to be successful or not. It is a help to us if we can say that it is possible to see the

the Art
grounds that the standard of pictures bought
for the eallery not be t hat of the
l owest co?'l'mon !act or in a Corporatj_on but should be based on informed appreciat ion by people concer ned with art: otherwise the child.ren and adults of this city will never be able to see any worthwhile art in their gallery.
THE Museum of Modern A rt, New Y ork, has bought a pairutdng by the Dublin artist, Patrick Scott. The painting is called 'W oman Carrying Gras- ses• and was sent to New York recerutly as one of the five Irish entries for the 1958 Guggenheim
A ward.
The Museum possesses one of
the finest collections of modern art In the world. This'is the first painting by an Irish artist it has purchased.
Last month, the Belfast Mus- eum and Art Gallery recommen- ded the purchas·e of the picture from the Irish exhibition of Living Art. The recommendation was endorsed by the Libraries, Museums and A rt Committee,
The President opening the Evie Hone exhibition at University College, Dublin, last night. In the picture are (from left): Mrs. O'Kelly; the Taoiseach, Mr. de Valera; An Breitheamh Cearbhall O Dalalgh; the President, and, on extreme right,
but whoo it went before the City Council for approval, Alderman T. Henderson protested. The Council was to have made a decision to•day.
Dr. M. Tierney, President, U.C.D. (See Pages 1 and 6).
1 1 58'
Dublin Evening Mail, Friday, November 7, 1958 : Painting By Dublin
1 Artist For New York
Ullt::.

.
members
Who wants the painting called
Cruickshank. says: "Its merit' at the seven-foot painting. "It may stnke you immediately,
would be robbing the ratepayers but it is a very fine classical to give this money for it. It's painting."
Many other with him.
agree Girl carrymg Grasses, by Patrick
DAILY MAIL, Friday, November 7, 1958
DAY OF DECISION
..............•...............,
I PRESENT today the painting which has been called " appalling " and a "mon- strosity," and for which £100 of Belfast ratepayers' money
may be paid.
The corporation's Libraries,
Museums, and Art Committee · want it for the city. But many corporation members, led by Alderman Thomas Henderson,
are fighting the idea.
The painting, called Girl
Carrying Grasses, is by Patrick
Scott, the Dublin artist.
Today the committee meets to
decide whetherto continue with the deal ... or forget it.
Says Alderman Henderson: "This painting is appalling. It's a monstrosity in my opinion. It would be robbing the rate- payers to give this money for
it."
.! EVENING
i ·Tale Of Two I
'•I
228. BELMONT ROAD. BELFAST.
TELEPHONE 657456
1{, Dec 'l'8
Dear M:r Scott,
A few of us in Belfast are trying to e:et 100 peep)le to sub3cribe £1 each in order
to buy Girl Carrying Grasses and present it to
picture in BelfaAt,in cdqe already know it .
:=mbscribers do not
I
Mr. Scott is an architect and a member of the Commitl tee of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art and is at present carrying out designs for the Christmas decorations In Grafton St.
Anotlier pai:1ting by Ml'. Scott, called "Girl Carrying Grasses," has caused a controversy in
Belfast.
Last month the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery recommended the purchase of the picture·from tile Irish E.xhibition of Living Art. When it went before the City .Council for approval. Aid. T. HenclP·rso;i nrotestPri.
Purchased
To-day. after a long discussion.
painting
A
Carrying Grases" by Dublin artist Patrick Scott has been purchased by the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Vie are
basing
our appeal
on the
HERALD, FRIDAY,
NOVEMBER 7, 1958
Paintings I called "W oman
Mi&S Alery had earlier de· the Libraries, Museum and Arts scribed the painting as "ab&u.rd,"
Committee of Belfast Corporation buit the main attack on the pur. deoided "by a large majority" to chase was launched by Aid. Hen.
reverse its previous decision to de•rson, who is an amateur artist
purchase the picture for £JOO. Councillor Miss Mc- Aler:v. chairman, said after- wards: "The painting has been hangi;ig for the past few days in 1 the members' room at the
a:1d hv trade.
" Girl Carrying Grasses"
City Hall. but will oe taken away soon."